The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-05-18
MOUND BUILDERS OR wHos

Interesting Discoveries in Otsego Coun-
ty, n. Yam Ancient Village Site.
A very remarkable discovery was brought
to light a short time ago upon the well known
Slade flats at the junction of the Charlotte
with the Susquehanna, ON the south side OF
the latter stream, at point some two miles
above this village. During the recent high
water a broad current was in some way di-
verted from the main channel across a bench
of alluvial land rising two or three feet above
the general level of the neighboring bank.
The field having been plowed last fall and the
soil to the depth of two feet or more consist
ing mainly of fine alluvium, gully two or
three rods wide and as many feet deep, to the
clay subsoil, was cut clear across the field for
some rods-to a pinnacle or overflow put
ting out from the main stream at some dis
tance below. The current does not appear to
have been very swift, and in consequence OBJ
iects of some weight contained in the soil
were left behind as the latter filtered away.
For ten days or a fortnight the plowed sec
ton was under water. When the food sub
sided Mr.. Slade and his son paid visit to the
place to ascertain the extent of the damage,
when what was their surprise to note in the
bottom of the new made channel many frag-
ments of rude pottery mingled with flint
chips, arrow and spear points and similar re-
mains They gathered many, and the news
of the discovery spreading, the spot has since
been visited by several persons. The site laid
bare by the flood is unquestionably that of an
aboriginal village. Altogether some 1900
fragments of pottery have been taken from
a few square rods of surface exposed, to-
gether with 100 spear and arrow points
many of them of unusual form-several flint
drills, as many sharpening stones, " two small
granite axes, numerous "sinkers," etc. Sew
eral ancient fireplaces, of river cobbles, bed
ded together, were disclosed, from one of
which peck of charcoal fragments was ex-
humed. The pottery, several pieces of which
show an exterior surface of three or four
square inches, is both plain and ornamented,
the latter in most intricate design. One
fragment shows a human face, but straight
lines, variously combined, and curious punct-
ured patterns are the prevailing type. Rims
and edges, being the thickest and least perish
able portions, abound in the collections made.
The plain pottery is remarkably hard and
well preserved, and in both plain and orna-
mented the inside surface is in most cases of
a black color, in strong contrast to the brick
red or chocolate hue of the exterior.
The top soil in the neighborhood abounds in
Indian relics, arrow and spear heads, ''ham-
mer stones" and the like, but it contains no
sign of this pottery. Tradition runs that
there was an Indian village in the locality.
But it might well have existed two feet above
the level laid bare by the food. For there is
nothing to prove that the soil had before
been disturbed for ages II indeed this be
the site of the Indian village, then is it to be
said that there can hardly exist that differ
ence between the Indians and the mysterious
mound builders which has been commonly
supposed, for the pottery obtained on the
CT n Il
exhumed in western mounds.
1t may be remarked in connection with this
subject that a so called "Indian moundn ex-
lists on Wallings Island not far below this an
Gent village site; that there is another near
the mouth of the Otsego creek, third at Sid
ney and a fourth in the Unadilla valley
| Oneonta Herald.